Loose leaf binder



LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed May l2, 1934 2 Sheets-Shee'h l ALEIF EL M536 p, 5:33, GRALL v LOOSE LEAF BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l2, 1934 Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDER tion Application May 12, 1934, Serial No. 725,351

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders, and has for an object thereof the provision of a simple, compact and efidcient binder formed to accommodate a varying number of leaves or sheets and wherein the construction of the binder is such that when the same is opened, the leaves or sheets lie perfectly flat on one or the other of the binder covers in order to aord a level sheet or surface on which to write, rule or draw and wherein the full area of any given leaf or sheet so retained is clearly visible.

It is another object of the invention to provide a binder of the character indicated wherein improved means in the form of resilient arms are provided for the purpose of passing through pierced openings provided contiguous to one of the edges of each leaf or sheet, and wherein the construction of the arms is such as to relieve the leaves or sheets from stresses and strains which are apt to produce tearing of the paper sheets or to cause undue bulging or compression thereof, especially at or near the regions of said openings.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a binder comprising a backing section, a pair of pivotally connected cover sections and a plurality of leaf holding arms of novel construction and mounting, the said arms being pivotally connected at certain of their ends with one of the side edges of the backing section and having their other ends formed for removable fastening engagement with the opposite side edge, the said arms between the pivotal and fastening ends thereof being shaped for reception within the slots or openings provided in the paper sheets or leaves, so that the latter may be securely and removably supported between the cover sections in connection with said arms.

It is a further object of the invention to mount the arms in connection with the backing section so that they may be moved longitudinally of the backing section to facilitate registration of the arms with the spacing of the openings provided in the sheets or pages to be attached thereto.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the backing section to include a frame formed to provide a pair of spaced longitudinally extending hinge rods with which the cover sections are pivotally carried and to mount the leaf or sheet connecting arms at certain of their ends on one of said rods so that said arms may be adjusted longitudinally of the rod on which they are carried and also rotate about the axis of that rod.

Other objects of the invention reside in constructing the backing frame for the reception of longitudinally adjustable positioning and fastening brackets with which said arms are longitudinally movable, and to form said fastening brackets to include upwardly directed extensions which constitute a means for registering the leaves or sheets in vertical pile forming order with the openings thereof in proper alignment for the reception of the resilient fastening arms. still, a further object rests in providing the cuter or free ends of said arms and said brackets with inter-engageable fastening means in order that accidental removal or displacement of the sheets will be avoided when said arms are fastened in connection with the adjustably mounted brackets.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated one of the preferred structural embodiments of the loose leaf binder comprising the present invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view disclosing the binder with the cover sections thereof in an open position, leaves or pages having been omitted;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken through the binder on the plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view disclosing the leaf or sheet holding arms in their open or releasing positions;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the central portion of the binder on the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the plane V--V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse Vertical sectional View disclosing the binder in its closed position with leaves or sheets fastened in connection therewith;

Fig. 7 is a detailed side elevation disclosing how the binder may be positioned to render the separate sheets held thereby viewable and removable.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my improved binder comprises a centrally disposed backing section lll and a pair of cover sections Il, the latter being preferably formed from a rigid material, such as sheet metal although, of course, other materials may be employed. The backing section also comprises a metallic member formed to include a flat back wall I 2 which terminates at its ends in rectangular ledges I3 which have their end portions recessed as at I4. Connected with the ledges I3 are transversely spaced longitudinally extending hinge rods I5, which have their opposite ends formed with threaded openings for the reception Of the threaded shanks of headed screws I6, the latter passing through openings formed in the ends of the ledges I3 and entering the threaded sockets in the ends of the rods I5 to hold the latter in secured connection with the binding section. The cover sections include eyes II which embrace the ends of the rods I5 immediately adjacent to the recessed areas I4 of the ledges I3. By means of this construction, the cover sections are hingedly connected with the backing section along the spaced longitudinal edges of said backing section.

Positioned in connection with shoulders I8 formed on the inner surfaces of the ledges I3 is a metallic frame I9, which includes spaced longitudinally extending bars 28 and transverse connecting webs ZI at the ends thereof, the outer edges of said webs being received beneath the shoulders I8. Screws 22 pass through the ledges I3 and engage with the upper or outer surfaces of the webs 2l so that the frame I9 may be adjusted relatively to the back wall I2 of the backing section, the bars forming therebetween a longitudinal slot 23.

Adjustable longitudinally of the frame I9 are positioning and fastening brackets 24. These brackets comprise, in their preferred form, a stamped sheet metal body bent upon itself to produce, for each bracket, eyes 25 which engage with the hinge rod I5a in order that the brackets may be adjusted longitudinally of the rod I5a. Each bracket includes a lower strap 23 which is arranged beneath the frame I9 and includes, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a vertically directed wall 2l and a horizontal portion 28 disposed for engagement with the back wall I2. At its outer end, the horizontal portion 28 of each strap 29 terminates in an upwardly directed vertical wall 29 extending parallel with and spaced from the wall 2'I, and the wall 29 registers with a pair of vertical tongues provided on the horizontally disposed top strap 39 which overlies the frame I9 and extends transversely of the latter toward the rod |50.. The blank of metal from which the strap 30 is formed is slotted as at 3I to produce an upstanding tongue 32, which serves as a positioning member in registering the sheets or leaves 33 of the binder in proper relative order to permit of their fastened connection with the binder, as will be presently described. The straps 26 and 33 of the brackets 24 may be relatively clamped in frictional engagement with the frame I9 by providing each of said brackets with a thumb screw 34, the threaded end of which is received within a nut 31 located below each bracket. The tightening of the screw 34 results in binding the bracket associated therewith in connection with the frame I9 so that said brackets may be retained in various positions of longitudinal adjustment on or with respect to the frame.

Positioned between the eyes 25 of the brackets 24 are the hinge eyes 38 of a pair of thin, flat resilient leaf holding arms 39. In the form of the invention illustrated, each of the arms includes an arcuate portion extending from the hinge eye 38 thereof, which terminates in an angularly disposed portion 4I and a downwardly directed substantially vertical resilient terminal 42. 'I'his terminal portion of each of the arms is formed contiguous to the lower end thereof with an opening 43 which is adapted to receive a laterally disposed lug 44 formed in connection with the wall 29 of a related bracket 24, whereby the free end of each arm may be detachably connected with its bracket. It will be obvious that by slightly iiexing the terminal portion 42 of said arm, the opening 43 therein may be moved past the lug or projection 44. This permits the arm to be revolved about the axis of the hinge rod I5a s0 that the sheets or leaves 33, connected with the arm, may be removed from the binder or new ones inserted.

In the use of the binder, the arms 39, as shown in Fig. 3, are disconnected from the brackets 24 and are swung about the axis of the rod Ita to assume their fully opened positions. A number of the leaves or sheets are then grouped and placed in a flat pile on one of the cover sections II. The pierced slots or openings 44' in said leaves or sheets are then relatively aligned or registered by engaging the inner edges of said sheets with the tongues 32 of the positioning brackets. When this registration is obtained, which can be very easily effected, the arms 39 are turned about the rod I5a so that the free ends 42 of said arms may be passed through the slots or openings 44. This is a simple matter, since the terminal portions of said arms are relatively iiexible or pliable and little or no dilculty is encountered in causing the same to pass through the openings 44, even though the lat- I ter may not be perfectly registered. Following passage of the arms through the sheet openings, the outer ends of said arms are fastened, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, with the projections 44, thus securing the sheets in connection with the binder. The reverse of this operation takes place when a given sheet, or number of sheets, is removed from the binder. It will be noted that the arms 39 are adjustable longitudinally of the hinge rods I5 in unison with the brackets 24, and i' this enables the arms to be adjusted to register with leaf openings 44 which may vary in position. Also, the fact that the frame I9 is adjustable by the screws 22 permits the top walls 30 of said brackets to be brought into alignment or in the horizontal plane of the cover sections II, so that when the binder is opened, the sheets or leaves 33 will lie at on said cover sections without wrinkling, iiexing or bending and so that the entire area of any given sheet may be em- "i ployed for writing purposes or will be visible for inspection. The binder may be opened as shown in Fig. 7 and arranged in a vertical position which is quite convenient in posting or entry recording operations or in the reading of stenoff graphic notes.

Insertion or removal of sheets and the interleaving of the same are usually made when the binder is lying flat on the outer surfaces of the cover sections, as shown in Fig. 3. The leaf holding arms enter the punched holes of the sheets while the latter are arranged in horizontal fiat order, the arms being brought to the paper in this operation instead of the paper being moved to the arms, as heretofore. The sheets may be stacked in a pile composed of a number of sheets equivalent to one-half to one inch in thickness. This pile is then placed adjacent to the guiding means 32 with the openings therein in vertical registration. When thus positioned, the arms are revolved and will properly engage the punched holes of the sheets to penetrate to the bottom of the pile. The pile is then lifted and advanced along said arms to the opposite cover section and this operation is repeated until the required number of sheets have been so connected with said arms. The free ends of the arms are then fastened and the sheets will then be securely held against displacement in the binder.

Although the sheets may be removed quickly and inserted easily, with respect to the binder, there is but minimum interference with record data, written, drawn or printed on the sheets. The construction provides a binder which is characterized by its lightness in weight, although strongly made to withstand severe usage and service, the lightness of the construction producing a book which may be easily handled even when lled with paper sheets. The binder may be built to accommodate any size of sheet, and it will be understood that as many arms as necessary in meeting the demands of the binder may be employed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, spaced parallel rods carried by said back member, a pair of cover sections pivotally connected with the rods and back member, a frame adjustably connected with said back member, brackets adjustable longitudinally of the frame and provided with sheet positioning means, and a plurality of sheet holding arms adjustable longitudinally of said frame in unison with said brackets, said arms being formed from a resilient material and having certain of the ends thereof pivotally connected with one of said rods and the free ends thereof formed for detachable connection with said brackets. Y

2. In a loose leaf binder, a backing section, spaced stationary parallel guides carried by said backing section, a pair of cover sections hingedly supported by said guides, a pair of substantially arcuate resilient sheet metal arms adjustable longitudinally of said guides, hinge connections between certain of the ends of said arms and one of said guides, and a separable fastening connection between the free ends of said arms and said backing section.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a backing section, a hinge rod extending longitudinally of said backing section, a pair of arched resilient metallic arms having certain of the ends thereof hinged to said rod for turning movement about the axis thereof and slidable longitudinally thereon, and a lug and opening connection between the outer free ends of said arms and said backing section.

4. A loose leaf binder, a backing section, a hinge rod extending longitudinally along 'one edge of said backing section, a pair of `brackets secured to said hinge rod and to said backing section, resilient sheet holding arms having certain of the ends thereof pivotally connected with said rod for turning movement above the axis thereof, and detachable connections between the free ends of said arms and said brackets.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a backing section,

a frame carried by said backing section, a. pair of brackets carried in connection with said frame, said brackets being formed with sheet positioning lugs, and a pair of resilient substantially arched sheet holding arms having certain of the ends thereof pivotally connected with said backing section and their free ends detachably connected with said brackets.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a back member having hinge pivots at its opposite edges, cover members hingedly united toI the respective pivots carried by said back member, brackets adjustably carried by said back member, and a plurality of resilient sheet holding arms. carried at certain of their ends by one of the hinge pivots and slidable longitudinally thereof, the free ends of said arms being formed for detachable connection with said brackets.

rI. A loose leaf binder comprising a backing section, a frame carried by said section, a longitudinally extending rod carried by said backing section, brackets adjustably carried by said rod, means provided in connection with said brackets for adjustably clamping them to said frame, and sheet holding arms adjustable with said brackets,

one end of said arms being detachable from saidy brackets for insertion through the sheets to be held thereby.

8. A loose leaf binder comprising a backing section, cover members hinged to said section, a frame supported in spaced relation from the rear wall of said backing section, said frame being formed with a longitudinally extending slot, bracket members surrounding said frame and adjustable longitudinally thereof, clamping means provided in connection with said brackets and extending through the slot in said frame, and sheet holding arms detachable at certain of their ends provided in connection with said brackets.

9. A loose leaf binder comprising a backing section provided with a pair of spaced longitudinally extending hinge rods, a cover member hingedly united to one of said rods, a longitudinally extending frame carried by said backing section, a bracket member slidable longitudinally of the other of said rods, means for clamping said bracket member to said frame, and a sheet holding arm pivoted to the rod carrying said bracket member and slidable with the latter.

10. A loose leaf binder comprising a backing section provided with a longitudinally extending rod, cover members hingedly united to said backing section, a frame carried by said backing section, a bracket member formed of metal straps slidable longitudinally of said rod with one of the straps of said bracket being arranged beneath and the balance on top of said frame, means for clamping said frame between the straps of said bracket and a sheet holding arm carried by said rod and slidable with said bracket.

PREN'I'ISS R. CRALL. 

